The idea of moving home can be very exciting, but in today’s economic climate, it pays to keep an eye on just how much it costs.
According to research[1][2], the average cost of moving home in the UK can be between £12,000-£14,000, when you factor in the wide range of costs, from Stamp Duty to estate agent fees, conveyancing, surveys and more.
A breakdown of some of the most common costs can be found here:
| Key average home moving costs recorded in 20222 | |
| Stamp duty | £6,500 |
| Estate agent (sale of your existing) | £4,544 |
| Conveyancing | £2,003 |
| House survey | £ 456 |
| Removals | £ 649 |
| Energy performance certificate (EPC) | £ 55 |
| Total | £14,207 |
These figures are based upon averaged data recorded by Reallymoving for a home move in the UK last year, and can show some of the costs that you may not have initially bargained upon, but can be quite sizeable.
Stamp Duty
When moving home, Stamp Duty is likely to be the highest cost you will face. You will pay Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) on the agreed price of your new property on any value over £250,000 in England and Northern Ireland. More details about Stamp Duty can be found on the Government website – https://www.gov.uk/stamp-duty-land-tax
The rules are slightly different for Scotland and Wales, in Scotland it is known as Land and Buildings Transaction Tax – https://www.gov.scot/policies/taxes/land-and-buildings-transaction-tax/, whilst in Wales it is simply known as Land Transaction Tax – https://www.gov.wales/land-transaction-tax-guide.
It’s useful to familiarise yourself with the applicable tax for your new property, especially as it represents a significant amount. We would always advise you seek independent legal advice/confirmation from your solicitor/conveyancer, but as a good starting point, more information can be found on the Calculate Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) link – https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/calculate-stamp-duty-land-tax/#/intro
Conveyancing sorts out the legal aspects of the sale and purchase when you engage a solicitor or licenced conveyancer to handle your move from one property to the new one.
Valuation Your lender will insist on a valuation of the new property to ensure that the sale price and the valuation are realistic and also to spot any obvious issues with the property. Unless it is a new property with a new build guarantee, it is advisable to also arrange to have a survey done of your new property which is more comprehensive, should highlight any potential underlying issues and may be a good way to avoid unexpected repair costs further down the line. Also, you may be able to re-negotiate the purchase price to factor in any costly current or future repairs.
Estate agent fees
According to the latest research by Home Owners Alliance, the average fee for an estate agent in 2023 is typically 1.42% of the sale price, plus VAT. For an example, a property that sells for £275,000 would mean an estate agents fee of £3,600.3
These are just a few of the most common fees that you are likely to encounter, but a more detailed listing can be found at the Reallymoving website here – https://www.reallymoving.com/removals/guides/cost-of-moving-house
Where possibly, it is recommended to shop around for the key services you need when moving home to maximise the savings where you can, areas such as conveyancing, surveys, removal costs and estate agent fees are all negotiable, so it’s worth contacting a range of firms to obtain multiple quotes before committing, and you could save yourself a considerable sum.
Sources
- Halifax (2023). How much does it cost to move house? Available at: https://www.halifax.co.uk/mortgages/help-and-advice/moving-house-costs.html (Accessed 20th June 2023)
- ReallyMoving (2023) Cost of moving house. Available at: https://www.reallymoving.com/removals/guides/cost-of-moving-house (Accessed 20th June 2023)
- Home Owners Alliance (2023) Estate agent fees – and how you can save in 2023. Available at: https://hoa.org.uk/advice/guides-for-homeowners/i-am-selling/how-much-should-i-pay-the-estate-agent/ (Accessed 20th June 2023)
All the information in this article is correct as of the publish date 29th June 2023. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors. The information provided in this article, including text, graphics and images does not, and is not intended to, substitute advice; instead, all information, content and materials available in this article are for general informational purposes only. Information in this article may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information.
